Aaron's death reminds me of the Vietnamese Buddhist monk's self-immolation in protest against the Vietnam war decades ago. That act has haunted me ever since, as Aaron's now will as well.
Thank you, Tarik, for bringing attention to this courageous protest against the unspeakable brutality of what's happening in both Gaza and the West Bank. If you don't already, you might want to know about Cara Marianna's West Bank Alerts (https://westbankalerts.substack.com). Through on-the-ground reports from her contacts there, I'm coming to understand the sheer randomness of the cruelty being enacted against a trapped population. There are no words . . .
And he who is not sufficiently courageous to defend his soul—don’t let him be proud of his “progressive” views, and don’t let him boast that he is an academician or a people’s artist, a distinguished figure or a general. Let him say to himself: I am a part of the herd and a coward. It’s all the same to me as long as I’m fed and kept warm. — Alexander Solzhenitzyn, “Live Not By Lies” (1974)
My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right. — Senator Carl Schurz, US Senate speech (29 Feb 1872)
[O]ur dignity, our free institutions and the peace and welfare of this and coming generations of Americans will be secure only as we cling to the watchword of true patriotism: "Our country—when right to be kept right; when wrong to be put right." — Carl Schurz, “The Policy of Imperialism,” Speeches, Correspondence and Political Papers of Carl Schurz, vol. 6, pp. 119–20 (1913).
I remember the Buddhist monks self-immolating in Saigon in 1963 in protest of Ngo Dinh Diem's US puppet government's crackdown on Buddhism , which was practiced by the vast majority of South Vietnam. Diem was a rich Catholic from the north of the country and in November 1963, JFK signed off on removing him from power, realizing that Diem was working against the US goal of uniting South Vietnam to oppose unification, which of course ultimately failed, but only after millions died needlessly. But the dramatic sacrifices of several leading monks who sat passively while they burned to death shocked the world, revealing the futility of the US meddling in Vietnam to "stop the spread of communism". Aaron Bushnell is indeed a hero in a different time, but still US imperialism was the driving force in his beyond-brave action.
Kennedy was then reportedly horrified at the brutal execution of Diem and his brother when they were toppled from power -just several weeks before Oswald gunned both him and Officer Tippit down in Dallas (if anyone wants to challenge me on who shot JFK AND Tippit, please provide the name (or names) of your purported assassins. Someone pulled the trigger on the rifle and then the pistol, "the deep state" is not an answer supported by any verifiable facts).
It turñs ober añy persoñ with a soul. see*iñgly to see a youñg hu*añ beiñg with the life waitiñg hi* to feel drea*s decides to protest iñ such a horrible way carryiñg oñ his shoulders all the guilt
& sha*e that eñrichiñg politiciañs doñ't habe or feel totally disgusted by the so called westerñ
"If you are, for instance, an academic worried about tenure or about your department politics..."
Unfortunately, the western academics are vetted ideologically for just this kind of complacency. There are some who retain their humanity and solidarity with the wage slaves of the world, but very few. A good number of those rare academics of good faith were severely punished and hounded out of their jobs for the view that a genocide (primarily of defenseless women and children!) is an intolerable crime.
I also strongly agree that those that have not spoken out, would have gone along with the original Nazis. We are again confronted by an organized, well funded, violent, perverted, racial supremacism. There are no shades of grey after 2023: you are either with or against the current manifestation of what is in essence Nazi ideology, although with a reverse racial hierarchy.
DAWN has urged the ICC prosecutor to investigate and prosecute former President Biden, State Secretary Blinken and Defense Secretary Austin for their personal roles in aiding and abetting Israeli war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Gaza as part of hisongoing investigation into the situations in Palestine since 2014.
We cannot allow Israel to escape the legal consequences of their war crimes. The Hind Rajab Foundation has, among other things, filed a case with the ICC against 1,000 Israeli soldiers for war crimes in Gaza.
They have taken further steps in recent days, and vacations are becoming a lot more difficult for IDF soldiers, worldwide. The Hind Rajab Foundation can use our help. Please join me in making a contribution.
You might find meaningful to watch the recent interviews that Glenn Greenwald did on his Rumble platform, and Ali Abunimah of the Electronic Intifada, did with the head of this organisation, Dyad Abou Jahjah. It was very informative.
Here's a petition calling for accountability for the arrest of Ali Abunimah in Switzerland:
Aaron's death reminds me of the Vietnamese Buddhist monk's self-immolation in protest against the Vietnam war decades ago. That act has haunted me ever since, as Aaron's now will as well.
Thank you, Tarik, for bringing attention to this courageous protest against the unspeakable brutality of what's happening in both Gaza and the West Bank. If you don't already, you might want to know about Cara Marianna's West Bank Alerts (https://westbankalerts.substack.com). Through on-the-ground reports from her contacts there, I'm coming to understand the sheer randomness of the cruelty being enacted against a trapped population. There are no words . . .
Thank you, as always, for your work!
And he who is not sufficiently courageous to defend his soul—don’t let him be proud of his “progressive” views, and don’t let him boast that he is an academician or a people’s artist, a distinguished figure or a general. Let him say to himself: I am a part of the herd and a coward. It’s all the same to me as long as I’m fed and kept warm. — Alexander Solzhenitzyn, “Live Not By Lies” (1974)
My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right. — Senator Carl Schurz, US Senate speech (29 Feb 1872)
[O]ur dignity, our free institutions and the peace and welfare of this and coming generations of Americans will be secure only as we cling to the watchword of true patriotism: "Our country—when right to be kept right; when wrong to be put right." — Carl Schurz, “The Policy of Imperialism,” Speeches, Correspondence and Political Papers of Carl Schurz, vol. 6, pp. 119–20 (1913).
I remember the Buddhist monks self-immolating in Saigon in 1963 in protest of Ngo Dinh Diem's US puppet government's crackdown on Buddhism , which was practiced by the vast majority of South Vietnam. Diem was a rich Catholic from the north of the country and in November 1963, JFK signed off on removing him from power, realizing that Diem was working against the US goal of uniting South Vietnam to oppose unification, which of course ultimately failed, but only after millions died needlessly. But the dramatic sacrifices of several leading monks who sat passively while they burned to death shocked the world, revealing the futility of the US meddling in Vietnam to "stop the spread of communism". Aaron Bushnell is indeed a hero in a different time, but still US imperialism was the driving force in his beyond-brave action.
Kennedy was then reportedly horrified at the brutal execution of Diem and his brother when they were toppled from power -just several weeks before Oswald gunned both him and Officer Tippit down in Dallas (if anyone wants to challenge me on who shot JFK AND Tippit, please provide the name (or names) of your purported assassins. Someone pulled the trigger on the rifle and then the pistol, "the deep state" is not an answer supported by any verifiable facts).
It turñs ober añy persoñ with a soul. see*iñgly to see a youñg hu*añ beiñg with the life waitiñg hi* to feel drea*s decides to protest iñ such a horrible way carryiñg oñ his shoulders all the guilt
& sha*e that eñrichiñg politiciañs doñ't habe or feel totally disgusted by the so called westerñ
elites. fro* *althus + Darwiñ + Galtoñ +the whole Hucsley Clañ dowñ.
Its a plantation nation and the moral rot is a one way street.
Great article. One note:
"If you are, for instance, an academic worried about tenure or about your department politics..."
Unfortunately, the western academics are vetted ideologically for just this kind of complacency. There are some who retain their humanity and solidarity with the wage slaves of the world, but very few. A good number of those rare academics of good faith were severely punished and hounded out of their jobs for the view that a genocide (primarily of defenseless women and children!) is an intolerable crime.
I also strongly agree that those that have not spoken out, would have gone along with the original Nazis. We are again confronted by an organized, well funded, violent, perverted, racial supremacism. There are no shades of grey after 2023: you are either with or against the current manifestation of what is in essence Nazi ideology, although with a reverse racial hierarchy.
DAWN has urged the ICC prosecutor to investigate and prosecute former President Biden, State Secretary Blinken and Defense Secretary Austin for their personal roles in aiding and abetting Israeli war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Gaza as part of hisongoing investigation into the situations in Palestine since 2014.
https://dawnmena.org/latest/
Let's give them our support.
We cannot allow Israel to escape the legal consequences of their war crimes. The Hind Rajab Foundation has, among other things, filed a case with the ICC against 1,000 Israeli soldiers for war crimes in Gaza.
https://www.hindrajabfoundation.org/perpetrators/hind-rajab-foundation-files-historic-icc-complaint-against-1000-israeli-soldiers-for-war-crimes-in-gaza
They have taken further steps in recent days, and vacations are becoming a lot more difficult for IDF soldiers, worldwide. The Hind Rajab Foundation can use our help. Please join me in making a contribution.
https://buy.stripe.com/cN228hbY5g7jaM84gg
You might find meaningful to watch the recent interviews that Glenn Greenwald did on his Rumble platform, and Ali Abunimah of the Electronic Intifada, did with the head of this organisation, Dyad Abou Jahjah. It was very informative.
Here's a petition calling for accountability for the arrest of Ali Abunimah in Switzerland:
https://chng.it/8D4pkxPhWS
Please sign the petition and share widely.
When in charge, should I form a think tank in his honour?
May all tanks, be think tanks in the future we hope will arrive, and soon.